Ice stacker



Aug. 25, 1953 L. A. imp 2,649,974

I 7 ICE STACKER Filed June 21, 1948 2 Sheets-Sheet l 42 M I INIfENTOR.

Les/er A. Tr/ep Aug. 25, 1953 L. A. TRIPP 2,649,974

ICE STAOKER Filed June 21, 1948 I 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 1N VENT0R.

Les/er A. Tr/p mummy FM Patented Aug. 25, 1953 ICE STACKER Lester A. Tripp, Elmhurst, Ill., assignor of onehalf to John Gordon, Elmhurst, Ill.

Application June 21, 1948, Serial N 0. 34,270

3 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in transferring devices which are employed to shift or change the position of relatively massive and heavy material such as blocks of-manufactured ice, which must be inverted from a horizontal position to a vertical inverted or upended placement for stacking purposes in a warehouse or storage plant.

Heretofore, the transferring of blocksof such as 400 pound blocks, from a horizontal position on its narrow side to a vertical placement, the ice being positioned on its end, required a manual operation employing several workmen, who changed the position of the ice blocks by use of ice tongs. This was especially hazardous and dangerous, in that when ice is upended by hand, the possibility of the ice block breaking and, also, the possibility of the block slipping due to an improper gripping of the ice by the tongs resulted in threatened injury to the workmen and in destruction of the ice blocks.

It is therefore the principal object of this inventionto'obviate these disadvantages by providing a transferring mechanism, which is light and compact, which can be carried by one Workman into a boxcar, truck, or any part of the plant where ice is to be upended and which is compact for dependable and sturdy use.

A further object of this invention resides in a provision of a transferring device having a pivoted transferring carriage on which ice blocks may be received in a horizontal position, the hinged carriage being adapted to be swung to a; vertical position from which position the ice blocks may be easily skidded and placed into an orderly association with the other ice blocks.

A further object of this invention resides in the provision of a base frame, a transferring carriage pivotally mounted on the frame for transferring or changing the position of an ice block and means for actuating the movable transfer carriage, such means effecting the movement of the carriage without transmitting undue shock to the ice block carried therein, so as to obviate any destruction of the block.

These and ancillary objects are attained by this invention, a preferred embodiment of which is set forth in the following description and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a View in perspective of this invention, showing the movable transferring carriage in its path of travel, relative to a vertical position;

Figure 2 is a top plan view of one end of this invention, showing the pivotal attachment of the movable carriage to the fixed base frame;

Figure 3 is a side elevational view of this invention;

Figure 4 is an end elevational View of this invention;

ice,

Figure 5 is a transferred sectional view taken on the plane of line 55 of Figure 3;

Figure 6 is a sectional View taken on the line 6-45 of Figure 2, and

Figure 7 is an enlarged perspective view Of the manual control means for operating the cylinders to effect vertical placement of the movable carriage.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, wherein similar characters of reference designate corresponding parts throughout, ll] designates the transferring device as a whole and I2 is a base frame which is adapted to be positioned on a horizontal support, such as the fioor of a storage plant, truck or the like. The base frame I2 comprises a pair of longitudinally extending parallel angle irons l4 and [6 which are mounted at opposite ends of a pair of transverse bars l8 and 20. Of course, castors or rollers may be provided in order to move the base frame in a horizontal position. However, it is deemed unnecessary, since the entire device is relatively light and can be easily transported by one workman.

A transferring carriage 24 is pivotally mounted between the parallel bars I4 and I6, adjacent the transverse bar 20. The movable carria comprises a pair of longitudinally extended parallel angle irons 26 and 23 which have their horizontal portions disposed inwardly, so that the two bars in cooperation form a pair of guide channels. A transverse bar 36 is secured to the edge of the angle irons adjacent the entrance ends thereof, while a similar bar 32 secures the opposite ends together. Of course, the entrance ends of the angle irons are suitably flared outwardly as at 34 and 36 so that an ice block may be easilyslid into position on the angle irons. The angle irons are provided with a transverse end member 38 to break and limit the inward movement of the ice block into the transferring carriage, as the same is in a horizontal position. The angle irons are pivoted, by means of laterally extended studs or bolts 49 and 42 to the vertical section of the parallel angle irons I 4 and I 6, as seen in Figure 2.

A pair of inwardly disposed angle irons 44 and 46 are positioned on the horizontal portion of the parallel bars M and I5 and are adapted to serve as cylinder bearings. The cylinders or air rams 68 and 50 are provided at one end with integral U-shaped brackets 52 and 54, through which are disposed bolts or the like 56 and 58. The bolts 56 and 58 are journaled in the angle irons 44 and 46 and in the vertical sections of the parallel bars 14 and It, as seen in Figure 4.

Extending upwardly from the parallel angle irons 2t and 28 of the movable carriage 24 are a pair of opposed triangular extensions 60 and 62 which at their apex are pivotally secured to a pair of push rods 64 and 66 extending from the air cylinders. In this respect, a pair of bolts, pivot pins or the like 58 and 69 extend laterally outwardly from the apex of the triangular extensions and are received in the U shaped bearing brackets formed in the end of the push rods.

Of course, means is provided for conveying air under pressure to the cylinder and thereby moving the push rods outwardly to advance the movable carriage to a vertical position. Thus, an air line 70 is connected toa valve 72 at one. end, the opposite end being suitably connected to a suitable supply source, such as a compression tank or the like not: shown The valve 12 is supported by a bracket M. An L-shaped bracket 76 supports an actuating foot pedal 18., which is pivoted to the vertical portion of the bracket as at 89. The foot pedal [8 terminates. in a forwardly extending finger 82 which is engaged under a valve operating plate 84, the opposite end thereof adapted to actuate a valve stem 86. Of course, resilient means 88, such as. a compression spring or the like may be provided for biasing the operating part 84 and the foot pedal into inoperative position and efiect a closing of the valve. When the foot pedal is depressed, the valve 72 is opened and the. air conveyed under pressure through the line 90 to a valve 9.2 through the line 94 and into the ends of the air cylinders. Of course, it is to be noted that the line 94 branches off as at 9.6 and is transversely disposed on the base frame in order to enter the cylinder 48 as seen in Figure 1.

The pressure in the air cylinders forces the push rods upwardly, which moves. the pivoted carriage as. itv carries the ice block from a hori zontal position relative to a. vertical position. When the carriage reaches a vertical. position and the ice block is placed on its. end, an Offset trip lever I98 extending from the carriage, adjacent the pivoted edge, engages and abuts against a lever L92 pivoted to the side of the base frame bar 14. A connecting linkage I84 communicates lever !92 with an actuating lever Hi5, which. opens. the valve. 92 and causes the. air from the line 94 to be exhausted from the cylinders and to be dispersed through the exhaust ports H38 in the valve. This automati cally controls the downward motion of the air carriage, the same being resiliently biased relative to a horizontal position by a pair of opposed springs H9, H2 which are secured to the vertical portions of the angle irons, adjacent the medial section thereof, and are attached to. the outward ends of the push rods.

Thus, it can be seen that there is provided a sturdy and durable transferring device, which is adaptable for many uses. In this respect, while it has been described as employed in association with the stacking of ice blocks, it is to be apparent that the same may be used, wherever any massive and weighty articles must be positioned.

Further, in this respect, it is to be apparent that while one embodiment of this invention has been described, others may be employed as coming within the spirit of the invention and scope of the appended claims.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. A material handling apparatus comprising a base, a carriage pivotally aflixed to one end of the base for vertical swinging movement from a horizontal resting position on the base to a position substantially perpendicular to the base,

upstanding standards on the opposing sides of the carriage and positioned adjacent to the pivoted end of the carriage, hydraulic cylinders pivotally attached to the opposing sides of the base, push rods workably mounted in the cylinders and pivotally attached to the upper ends of the standards and resilient means connected between the standards and the base for biasin the carriage relative to the base upon an exhaustion of hydraulic pressure in the cylinders, and. means responsive to a predetermined vertical movement of the carriage for bleeding the cylinders to exhaust the hydraulic pressure, said last means including a pressure line for the cylinders, a relief valve. in said line, a, linkage system for actuating said valve and means carried by the pivoted end of the carriage operating said linkage system.

2. A material. handling apparatus comprising a base, a carriage pivotally afiixed to one end of the base for vertical swinging movement from a horizontal resting position on the base to a position substantially perpendicular to the base, upstanding standards on the opposing sides of the carriage and positioned adjacent to the pivoted end of the carriage, hydraulic cylinders pivotally attached to the opposing sides of the base, push rods workably mounted in the. cylinders and pivotally attached to the upper ends of the standards and resilient means connected between the standards and the base for biasing the carriage relative to the base upon an exhaustion of hydraulic pres,- sure in the cylinders, and means responsive to a predetermined vertical movement of the carriage for bleedin the. cylinders to exhaust the hydraulic. pressure, said last means including a pressure line for the cylinders, a relief valve in said line, a linkage system for actuating said valve and means carried by the, pivoted end of the carriage operating said linkage system, said last means including a trip lever ofiset from said carriage.

3. A material handling device comprising a base, a carriage pivotally mounted on the base for vertical swingingmovement, hydraulic means mounted on the base and connected to the carriage for raising the carriage, automatic means responsive to. a predetermined movement of the carriage for bleeding the hydraulic means and resilient means connected between the. base and the carriage for returning the carriage to a position on the base, said meansfor bleeding the hydraulic means including a pressure line, a relief valve in said line, actuating means for said valve and means carried by the carriage for operating said actuating means.

LESTER A. TRIPP.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,394,245 Berry Oct. 18, 1921 1,858,797 Wood May 17, 1932 1,859,487 Aimes May 24, 1932 1,859,501 Durbin May 24, 1932 2,297,583 Rowlands- Sept. 29, 1942 2,344,664 Adams Mar. 21, 1944 2,423,251 Muller July 1, 1947 2,451,101 Leschinsky Oct. 12, 1948 2,466,650 Walker Apr. 5, 1949 2,469,007. Siebring May 3., 1949 2,520,451 Baker Aug. 29., 19.50 

